[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 12 (Monday, March 24, 1997)]
[Pages 381-382]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks to a National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse 
Dinner

March 18, 1997

    The President. Hello, Joe. Can you hear me all right?
    Joseph A. Califano, Jr. Yes, sir.
    The President. Well, thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for the 
applause. And I'd like to be there with you tonight, you know, but I'm 
not particularly mobile at this time. I want to congratulate all of you 
who have had anything to do with the National Center on Addiction and 
Substance Abuse on the fifth anniversary. Hillary and I are pleased to 
be the special honorary chairs for CASA's anniversary dinner. And I'm 
delighted to join you in paying tribute to Nancy Reagan, to Peter Lund, 
and to Sandy Weill as they're honored for extraordinary achievements in 
our common crusade against substance abuse.
    All of you know very well that alcoholism, teen smoking, drug 
addiction, and other forms of substance abuse are claiming the lives of 
thousands of people every year and fueling crime, domestic violence, 
disease, and death. But because of the efforts of the National Center on 
Addiction and Substance Abuse and so many other people throughout our 
country, we have reason to hope for a better future.
    In just 5 short years, CASA has established itself as one of our 
Nation's premier institutions in the field of substance abuse. In 
communities all across our Nation, concerned individuals and groups from 
all parts of our society are coming together under the leadership of 
CASA to empower our people with the information and services they need 
to lead productive and drug-free lives.
    I especially want to commend Joe Califano and the board of 
directors, the staff, and the special supporters of CASA for your vision 
and your leadership in this crusade to protect our families, our 
friends, our neighbors, and our future from the ravages of substance 
abuse. Your knowledge and professionalism and hard work will make our 
Nation stronger and our future brighter.
    Our administration is taking forceful measures to help our citizens 
in this crucial endeavor. We're attacking the supply of illegal 
narcotics at its source, sending a strong message to our Nation's young 
people about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse to prevent 
it before it begins, including a $175 million national antidrug media 
campaign directed toward our youth that's part of our budget proposal, 
and doing everything we can, finally, to have the right kind of law 
enforcement that focuses on prevention as well.
    We want to be good partners with you. But everyone in America has to 
recognize the unique role that the National Center on Addiction and 
Substance Abuse has played in concentrating our attention and making us 
know that we have to keep working on this problem. And we cannot 
tolerate the trends of recent years in increased substance abuse among 
our young people. We're going to turn that around, and we're going to 
take our Nation where we need it to go, thanks in no small measure to 
your leadership.
    I give you my best wishes for a memorable anniversary celebration 
tonight and even more important, for continued success. And once again, 
let me personally thank Nancy Reagan and Peter Lund and Sandy Weill for 
all that they have done.

[[Page 382]]

    Thank you, Joe, and thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Note: The President spoke at 9:05 p.m. in the Residence at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Joseph A. Califano, Jr., 
president, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse; former 
First Lady Nancy Reagan; Peter A. Lund, president and CEO, CBS, Inc.; 
and Sanford I. Weill, chairman and CEO, The Travelers Group, Inc.